Papermaking machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. W. GIBSON ETAL PAPERMAKING MACHINE II i Feb. 25, 1964 Filed Oct. 4, 1961 Feb. 25, 1964 e. w. GIBSON ETAL 3,122,336

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1964 s. w. GIBSON ETAL 3,122,335

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,122,336 PAlERh/EAKWG MACE-ENE Glen W. Qihson and James J. Kraus, Sn, both of Neenah, Wis, assignors to Kimberly=Clarlr Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Bel ware l iled Get. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,926 7 Claims. (Ql. 242--67.1)

The invention relates to papermaking machines and, more particularly, to apparatus for winding webs of paper or other sheet material into rolls.

So-called cradle winders have been previously proposed which utilize loops of canvas disposed about rolls, one or more of which is driven for driving the canvas. The canvas is relatively loose, so that it may form a pocket in which a shaftless core having the end of the web attached to it may be disposed, and the canvas on movement about the rolls rotates the core and Winds the web onto it.

The canvas must be kept in substantially the same path of travel about the rolls; however, it is quite diflicult to guide tie canvas, as between limiting side plates, due to the slackness of the canvas loop. The result is that the canvas suffers frequent damage requiring repair or replacement.

It is an object or" the present invention to provide an improved machine of this type in which a portion of the canvas is maintained taut during operation of the machine, so that the canvas may more easily be guided, as by means of a conventional felt guide using a paddle riding on the edge of the canvas which is effective through power operated mechanism to return the canvas to its original path, assuming it has deviated from this path.

More par 'cularly, it is an object of the invention to maintain tlns tautness of the canvas duri g operation of the machine by providing a differential (lIlV6 mechanism between a pair of spaced rolls supporting the loop of canvas which tend to drive the canvas at different speeds.

t is a further object to utilize one of these rolls as a pinch roll cooperating with another pinch roll to the canvas and hold a part of it taut wh the machine is inoperative, so that another part of the canvas at this time is slack to provide a pocket for a new roll of webbing being started and to facilitate unloading of a finished roll of Webbing.

It is another object to provide speed responsive mechanism for controlling the pinch rolls to maintain them out of pinching condition with the canvas when the machineis in operation and to cause return of the pinch rolls into operative condition to grip the canvas when the machine is inoperative.

Such a pocket for holding a roll being wound may be formed by a cradle roll swingably supported on a pair of arms and movable into proximity with another roll supporting the canvas, and it is an object of the invention to provide mechanism cooperating with this cradle roll assuring that the pocket for receiving a core for a new roll shall exist between the cradle roll and the adjacent roll when the machine is shut down. A roll being wound as it increases in diameter is eflective to move the cradle roll and its arms to enlarge the pocket receiving the roll, and it is a further object of the invention to provide mechanism applying a force on the arms and cradle roll that increases with the diameter of the roll of webbing so that the webbing is wound with substantially the same tightness throughout the complete diameter of the finished roll.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed, for carrying out the above stated objects, and such other objects, as will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of winding apparatus incorporating the principles of the invention and including a loop of fabric trained about a plurality of rolls, including a cradle roll supported by a pair of swinging arms, and a pair of pinch rolls having a nip through which the fabric loop passes;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the winding apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the winding apparatus taken from the side of it opposite to that illustrated in FIG. 1;

P16. 4 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale of an end of the cradle roll;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the direction indicated;

FL 6 is a diagrammatic view of guiding mechanism for the fabric belt;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a control valve forming a part of the mechanism illustrated in FlG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of pneumatic control mechanism for the Winding apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a further detailed view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated winder comprises an endless belt ill which is held in the form of a loop by means of an idler roll ill, a drive roll 12, a cradle roll 13, pinch rolls l4 and 15, a stretch roll 15, a guide roll 17 and an idler roll 18. The belt it may be or" any suitable fabric, such as canvas. The roll 12 is mounted in a bearing assembly 19 that is in turn mounted on a machine frame 2%, and the roll is driven from any suitable prime mover 21. The frame 2% is disposed on a horizontal support 22. The roll 11 is also fixed to the machine frame 29, on a side of the frame, by means of a bearing assembly 23.

The roll i3 is supported by means of a pair of spaced arms 24 which are connected by a shaft 25 extending through bearings 26. The bearings 26 are mounted on beds 27 that is in turn disposed on a horizontal support 28 to swingably mount the arms 24.

The rolls 14 and 15 may be termed pinch rolls and are disposed one above the other to have a nip between them, and the roll 15 is mounted by means of bearing asesniblies 29 each of which is disposed on the horizontal support 22. The roll 14 is mounted on one end by means of a bearing assembly 30 fixed on an arm 31 which is swingably mounted on a support 32 disposed on the horizontal support 22. The roll 14 is fixedly mounted on its other end by means of a bearing assembly 33 disposed on the support 22. A pressure motor 34 is disposed between the end of the arm 31 and the horizontal support 22.

The roll 16 constitutes an adjustable stretch roll and is movably mounted by means of adjustable mounting asseinblies which includes bearings 35 supporting opposite ends of the roll 1-6 and sliddb ly mounted on rails disposed on the bed plates 27. Screws 3'? supported by standards S 3 which are fixed to the bed plates 27 have a threaded engages rent with the bearing assemblies 35. A miter gear 3?? is fazed to each of the screws 37, and a miter gear 4%? is in mesh with each of the gears 3% and is fixed to a shaft d-l supported by standards 42 fixed to the bed plates 27. The screws 37 may be turned by means of the gears 39 and 4t? and the shaft 41 for movably adjusting the bearing assemblies 35 on the rails 36 and thereby adjustably moving the roll 15 soas to loosen or tighten the belt 13 about the rolls I l-4.8 to maintain it under proper tension.

The guide roll 17 is supported on one end by any suitable fixed bearing assembly and standard (not shown) and is supported on the other end by means of a power actuated movable bearing assembly 43 mounted on a bed plate 27. The assembly 43 comprises a bearing 44 for journaling one end of the roll 17 and which is swingably mounted with respect to an arm 45 supported by a standard 46 that is fixed on a bed plate 27. The bearing 44 is hung from the arm 45 by means of links 47 and 48. The link 43 has a pivotable connection with the arm 45, and the link 47 has a pivotable connection with the arm 45 and also with the bearing 44. A fluid pressure motor i supported by :the standard 46 has a piston rod connected with the link 47 for moving the bearing 44 and the corresponding end of the roll 17.

A paddle 51 is movably supported by means or a standard 52 fixed with respect to a bed plate 27 and is adapted to ride in contact with an edge of the canvas belt it). The paddle 51 and motor 4 9 are operatively connected together, so that the end of the roll 17 supported by the bearing 44 is so moved, with swinging movement of the aums 47 and 48, that the canvas 1% runs in substantially the same path around its supporting rolls and does not creep appreciably toward one side or the other tending to move off the rolls. The mechanism interconnecting the paddle 51 and the motor 49 may be of conventional construction as will be hereinafter described.

The idler roll 18 is supported by bearings 53 that are fixed with respect to the bed plates 27.

The arms 24 are swung about their bearings 26 by means of fiuid pressure motors 54. Movement of the arms 24 is limited by means of latches 55 which are adapted to extend around the corresponding arms 24 and which are pivotally mounted about lugs 56 that are fixed to the lower surfaces of I beam supports 57 'for the support 22. A fluid pressure motor 53 is connected to an end of each of the latches 55.

A brake 59 is provided for the cradle roll 13. The brake may be of any suitable construction and may, for example, comprise a shell 69 fixed to the roll 13 and a friction band an adapted to engage the inner surface of the shell 69 and fixed with respect to an inner stator 62. The stator 62 comprises a hollow flexible inflatable member 63 to which air under variable pressure may be supplied to expand the band at to engage the inner surface of the shell 65? with variable pressure for a controlled braking efieot on t. e roll 13.

A drive connection is provided between the drive roll 12 and the pinch roll 14. The drive connection comprises a drive chain 64; in engagement with and extending over a sprocket 65 fixed to rotate with the drive roll 12 and a sprocket 66 coaxially disposed with respect to the pinch roll 14. A clutch assembly 67 is provided for the sprocket 66 and comprises an annular plate 68 fixed on one side of the sprocket with the shaft 14a for the roll 14 so as to rotate with the roll 14, and an axially movable pressure plate 69 disposed on the shaft 14a on the other side of the sprocket 66. A collar 7% is fixed on the shaft 14:; for the roll 14, and a spring 71 is disposed between the collar 7 {l and the pressure plate 69, so that the sprocket 66 is gripped between the plates 68 and 69 to provide a yieldab-le connection between the sprocket 66 and the roll 14.

The control system for the guide roll 17 may be substantially as disclosed in the patent to Hornbostel, 2,530,- 122, issued November 14, 1950, and may include a valve 72 under the control of the paddle '51. The valve 72 includes a hollow conical member 73 and a solid conical valve core 74 fitting in the member 73. The paddle 51 is fixed on an arm 75, and the arm 75 is connected by means of a link 76 with the conical member 73. The

arm 75 has a pivotal connection with the valve core 74,

and a tension spring 77 is provided between the end of the arm 75 and the conical member 73.

The motor 4') comprises a diaphragm 78 connected to the rod 50, and an air conduit 7 9 is connected to one side of the diaphragm. An air conduit 80 is connected to the valve 72, and both conduits 79 and 8:; are connected to an air supply conduit 81. A pressure regulator valve 82 is in the conduit 81, and a gauge 83 is connected to the conduit 81 adjacent the regulator valve 82. A bleed or needle valve 84 is disposed in the conduit 81 between the gauge 83 and the junction of the conduits 79 and 30 with the conduit 81.

Each motor 54 (see FIGS. 1 and 8) for a cradle arm 24 comprises a piston 85 slidably disposed in a cylinder 86. A conduit 37 is connected to one end of both motors 54 (only one motor 54 being illustrated in FIG. 8 for simplicity of illustration), and a source of air pressure (A.P.) controlled by a valve 88 is connected to the conduit 87. A bleed valve 39 is also connected to the conduit 87. A conduit 9% is connected to the other end of both the cylinders 86. A source or" air pressure is connected to the conduit 90 through a valve 91, and a bleed valve 92 is also connected to the conduit 9%. A pressure control valve unit 93 is connected to the conduit 9% through a shutoff valve 94. Each motor 54 is fixed at one end, and

each piston 85 is connected through a connecting rod 96 with the respective arm 24.

The unit 93 may be of any suitable construction to provide an air pressure that increases as the arms 24 move counterclockwise, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8. The unit 93, as shown, comprises a swingable actuating lever 26 connected to a shatft 97. A cam 98 is driven by one of the arms 24 by means of a gear 99 swingable with the arm 24 and a pinion 1% in mesh with the gear 109* and fixed with respect to the cam 98, and the actuating lever 96 rides on the cam The shaft 97 is mechanically connected to a fiexure assembly ltl-l which comprises a piece of spring material bent back upon itself and having a rounded ball tip 102. The ball tip 102 presses against a flapper 103 which is positioned to close the end of an air nozzle 104. The flapper 10 3 is mounted on a fiat spring 165 so as to yieldably press against the air nozzle and so as to be movable away firom the air nozzle on rotation of the parts 96, 97 and 101.

An air bellows 166 is effective on the downwardly extending portion of the fiexure assembly 101 by means of a force transmitting rod 107. The flapper 103 and nozzle 1% are mounted on a disc 108 which may be turned as desired to change the calibration of the unit.

A relay 109 is connected to both the nozzle 194 and the bellows 106. The relay comprises a housing 110 having a diaphragm 111 disposed therein acting through a valve stem 112 on a ball valve 113. The ball 113- is adapted to rest on a seat 11 4 and the stem '112 has a tapered portion 115 adapted to seal on a seat 116. A leaf spring 117 is effective to yieldably hold the ball 113 against the valve stem 112.

An air pressure supply conduit 118 is connected to a lower chamber 119 in the housing 110 and is connected through a restriction 120 with the nozzle 104. A pressure output conduit 121 is connected to the valve 94 and is connected to the cavity in the housing 110 for the valve stem 112 having the seats 114 and 116 on opposite ends. A branch conduit 122 connects the bellows 166 with the output conduit 121, and a branch conduit 123 is provided to connect an upper chamber 124- in the housing 110 with the nozzle 104.

The motor 58 for each of the latches 55 comprises a piston 125 movably disposed within a cylinder 12-6. A source of air pressure is provided for one end of both motors 58 (one motor 58 only being illustrated in FIG. 8 for simplicity of illustration) through a valve 127 and a conduit 123, and a bleed valve 129 is also connected with the conduit 128. A source of air pressure is provided for the other end of the cylinder 126 through a valve 130 and a conduit 131. A bleed valve 132 is also connected to the conduit 131.

The motor 34 comprises a piston 133 slidably disposed in a cylinder 134. A conduit 135 is connected to the lower end of the motor 34 and a source of air pressure is connected to the conduit 135 through a valve 136.

An alternate source of air pressure is provided for the motor 34 from an automatically operable valve 137 connected to the conduit 135 through a manually operable shut-off valve 138. The valve 137 may be of any suitable construction and may comprise, for example, a piston 139 slidably disposed in a housing 140. The housing 146 on one side has a bleed port 141 and a port 142 connected to a source of air pressure. The housing 140 on its other side has an elongated port 143 connected to the valve 138, and the piston 139 has an annular groove 144 in it that connects either the port 141 or' the port 142 with the port 143 depending on the positioning of the piston.

An electric solenoid 145 is provided for actuating the valve 137. The solenoid comprises an armature 145 connected with the piston 139 and an electric winding 147 effective to draw the armature within it. A battery 148 grounded on one terminal has its other terminal connected to one end of the Winding 1-47, and the other end of the winding is connected to a switch 149 having one of its terminals grounded. The switch 149 is operated by a governor 150 which is effective to move a switch blade 151. The governor may be of any suitable type and as shown comprises a shaft 152 driven along with the motor 21 and driving roll 12 and carrying a pair of fly balls 153 by means of links 154. A collar 155 is slidably disposed on the shaft 152 and is connected by means of a pair of links 156 with the fiy balls 153 and carries the switch blade 151.

In operation, the motor 21 is initially inoperative, and the arms 24 are in their vertical positions as illustrated in FIG. 1. The latches 55 are in their effective positions extending around the arms 24, so that movement of the arms 24 in a clockwise direction about their lower bearings 26 is limited The valve 127 is open to apply air pressure to the conduit 128 and on the right sides of the pistons 125 in the cylinders 126, and the bleed valve 132 is open to hold the latches55 in effective position. Air pressure is applied on the left sides of the pistons 85 by opening the valve 91 and the valves 92 and 94 are closed so that the arms 24 are maintained in engagement with the latches 55. A loop of the fabric lit exists between the cradle roll 13 and the drive roll 12, and a core 157 is dropped into this loop and the end of a web A of paper or other material to be wound is fastened onto the core 157.

The valve 91 is then closed, and the valve 94 is opened, so that the unit 93 may be effective to apply air pressure on the left sides of the pistons 85 as will be hereinafter described in more detail. The latches 55 are drawn out of engagement with the arms 24 by opening the valve 130 to apply air pressure on the left sides of the pistons 125; and the valve 127 is closed and the bleed valve 129 is opened. The motors 58 are then effective to disengage the latches 55 from the arms 24 and allow the arms 24 to move'counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 5 so that the core 157 is gripped within the fabric loop 19a which has thus been tightened about the core.

The motor 21 is then energized to cause the canvas 10 to move in a direction shown by the arrows 158 around the rolls 1118 which hold the canvas 10 in the form of a loop. The core 157 is rotated by the canvas loop 10a embracing the core so as to wind the web A on the core in the form of a roll 159.

The unit 93 provides a continuous air pressure on the left sides of the pistons 85 as seen in FIG. 8 tending to hold the arms 24 from movement in a counterclockwise direction about their lower bearings 26. The roll 159, as it winds up and increases in diameter, counteracts this tendency and causes such movement of the arms 24 with corresponding movement of the cradle roll 13. The air pressure on the left sides of the pistons is regulated by the unit 93, so that this air pressure increases with counterclockwise movement of the arms 24 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, whereby the roll 159 is wound with approximately the same degree of tightness for its complete diameter. The arm 96 is in contact and is guided by the cam 93 rotatable with the arms 24; and, on counterclockwise movement of the arms 24, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, the arm 96 moves downwardly on the cam 98.

The unit 93 provides an increasing air pressure in its output conduit 121 connected with the cylinder 36 through the valve 94 and conduit with an increasing force from the flapper 163 on the end of the nozzle 1114. As the arm 96 moves downwardly with counterclockwise rotation of the arms 24, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, the flexure assembly 161 is rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 9 so as to allow the spring 105 carrying the flapper 103 to cause the latter to bear with a greater force on the nozzle 1&4.

The conduit 118 is connected with a source of air under pressure, and the pressure in the conduit 123 connected to the nozzle 104 increases with increasing pressure of the flapper 153 on the end of the nozzle since the restriction 123 is between the conduit 11% and the nozzle. The pressure in the conduit 123 is applied on the top side of the diaphragm 111 in the relay 1419 and this increased pressure on the diaphragm tends to move the had 113 away from its seat 114 against the action of the leaf spring 117 so as to admit air pressure from the conduit 118 and the chamber 119 into the conduit 121 which is the output conduit connected to the cylinder 35 through the conduits 90 and 121.

This increase with pressure with downward-movement of the arm 96 is limited to a predetermined amount corresponding to the actual amount of downward movement of the arm 96 due to the action of the bellows 1%. The .creased pressure in the conduit 121 is effective through the branchconduit 122 on the bellows 1% which through the rod 15W tends to bend the fiexure assembly 191 against its inherent resilience back in itself so that the flapper has nearly its same position and closing effect on the nozzle 104 as prior to the downward movement of the arm 96. The latter effect is due to the fact that the flapper 193 extends at an angle with respect. to the axis of the rods 1%7 and 97 so that the ball 152 cams the flapper 1113 back from the nozzle 1%4 with this flexing of the assembly 1G1 back on itself. The relative effectiveness of the rod in rotating the assembly 191 to increase the pressure in conduit 121 and the bellows 186 in flexing the assemoly 191 to limit the pressure in the conduit 121 may be adjusted by adiustably rotating the disc 1% to change the angle of the flapper 193 with respect to the axes of the bellows 1% and the shafts 197 and 97, as will be understood.

S"ll additional downward movements of the arm 96 wit increasing counterclockwise rotations of the arms 24 results in still additional increases in pressure in the conduit 121, as will be understood. Thus, since the pressure from the unit 93 is applied onto the left sides of the pistons 35, as seen in FIG. 8, the tightness of the canvas loop 16a around the roll 159 increases with the diameter of the roll, so that the webbing A is wound onto the roll with substantially the same tautness for the complete diameter of the roll.

When the roll 159 reaches the desired diameter, the motor 21 is deenergized and movement of the canvas 19 ceases. At this time, the valve 94 is closed, and the bleed valve 92 is opened. The valve 83 is opened to apply air pressure to the right sides of the pistons 85 so as to move the arms 24 and the cradle roll 13 to the limit of their movements in the counterclockwise directions, as seen in FIGS. 1 and t3, imited by the length of the canvas loop 1%. The webbing A is then cut from the completed roll 159, and the roll is then rolled downwardly on the segment of the canvas 10 between the driving roll 12 and the cradle roll 13 to be suitably packed or stored for subsequent usage.

For beginning another roll 159, the arms 124 are moved back into their vertical positions by closing valve 92 and opening valve 91 to apply air pressure on the left sides of the pistons 85, the latches 55 being previously moved into their effective positions by applying air pressure to the left sides of the pistons 125 by opening the valve 127 and closing the valve 129.

The brake 59 is effective to assure that the loop 10a of the canvas 10 exists between the drive roll 12 and the cradle roll 13, rather than having a loop of the canvas between any of the other rolls supporting the canvas. The brake 59 puts a resistance to movement on the cradle roll 13 so that when it is moved toward the roll 12 with clockwise movement of the arms 24, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, it tends to tighten the canvas 14 between the rolls 13 and 14, leaving the loop 1hr: between the rolls 12 and 13. The brake 59 may be suitably controlled by applying air pressure withi the expansible stator portion The guide roll 17 is elfective to maintain the canvas 16 continuously moving in substantially the same path about the rolls which hold the canvas in looped configuration. As the canvas tends to move in one direction from this path, the paddle 51 moves along with the canvas under the action of the spring 77 to move the valve core 74 out of the tapered casing 73 to open the valve 72 to a greater extent. The pressure on the diaphragm 78 in the motor 49 is thus relieved, moving the bearing 44 for the roll 17 in one direction so as to return the canvas to its original path. As the canvas tends to wander off its path in the other direction, the valve 72 is closed to a greater extent so as to increase the air pressure effective on the diaphragm 78 and move the bearing 44 in the opposite direction so as to return the canvas to its original path.

The driving connection between the drive roll 12 and the top pinch roll 14 including the clutch 67 and the drive chain 64 functions to assure that the paddle 51 and the guide roll 17 are effective on a taut portion of the canvas 10 during operation of the machine. The sizes of the sprockets 65 and 66 and the sizes of the rolls 12 and 14 are such that the top pinch roll 14 has a rotative force applied to it tending to drive it at a slower surface speed than the drive roll 12 or to hold it back with respect to the drive roll 12. The lower run of the canvas 10 around the rolls 15, 16, 17, 18, 11 and 12 thus is tight, and the upper run of the canvas between the rolls 12 and 14 and over the cradle roll 13 is relatively slack allowing the roll 159 being wound by the canvas to be embraced by the canvas, even to some extent when the roll is nearly completed.

The driving torque tending to rotate the top pinch roll 14 at the slower surface speed is transmitted through the clutch 67 which is adjusted to slip so that the canvas 1% does not tear. The proper clutch adjustment, as will be understood, may be made by adjusting the spring '71 effective on the movable plate 69 of the clutch.

In order that this driving connection between the rolls 12 and 14 may be properly effective and in order that the brake 59 on the cradle roll 13 may be effective to provide the initial loop 19a in the canvas 10, the rolls 12, 13 and 14 are each preferably provided with a covering of non-slip material. This non-slip material may be rubberlike in nature and provides a frictional engage- :ment between the respective rolls and the canvas 10.

It is desirable, in order to minimize puckering and uneven and excessive wear on the canvas 11 during operation of the machine, to separate the pinch rolls 14 and during machine operation. The governor 150, the solenoid 145 and the valve 137 function in conjunction with the motor 34 to perform this function. As the speed of the canvas 10 and the drive roll 12 increase, the .governor shaft 152 likewise increases in speed, and eventually the fi y balls .153 move outwardly sufficiently so as to bring the switch blade 151 carried by the collar 155 into position closing the switch 149. The switch 149 then completes an electric circuit including the battery 148 and solenoid 147 to energize the latter, and solenoid core 146 is drawn upwardly. The valve piston 139 is connected with the armature 146 and moves upwardly along with the armature so as to connect the port 142 supplied with air pressure with the port 143 by means of the groove 144 in the piston. Air pressure is thus supplied from the valve 137 through the conduit and the valve 138 to the lower surface of the piston 133 of the motor 34 so as to raise the end of the lever 31 and the bearing 30 for the roll 14. The roll 14 is thus moved upwardly out of contact with the roll 15 on a predetermined speed of the roll 12 being attained.

When the machine is stopped, the governor weights 153 move back into their original positions in which the switch blade 151 opens the switch 149. The circuit through the winding 147 is thus broken, and the valve piston 139 moves back into its original position in which it connects the port 143 with the bleed port 141. The roll 14 then moves back into pinching relation with respect to the roll 15 and the canvas 19 passing between the pinch rolls. The lower stretch of the canvas passing over the rolls 16, 17, 18 and 11 thus remains taut, and the upper stretch of the canvas between the rolls 12 and 14 and passing over the roll 13 remains relatively loose, so that the upper stretch of the canvas may be moved to unload a finished roll and so that the pocket 10a may be formed for initiating the winding of subsequent rolls of the material A.

Although the pinch rolls 14 and 15 are brought together for the purpose of preventing slippage of the canvas 11 with respect to these rolls for maintaining one portion of the canvas taut and the other portion loose, it has not been found necessary to provide a corresponding pinch roll in connection with the drive roll 12, inasmuch as the roll 12 is of relatively large diameter, most of its circumference is wrapped by means of the canvas 10 and the roll 12 is preferably provided with a high friction exterior surface.

The size of the pocket 10a may be varied by adjustably moving the stretch roll 16. The bearing assembly 35 and the roll 16 are moved by rotating the screws 37 by means of the gears 39 and 40 and the shaft 41. Compensation for stretch in the canvas may also be obtained, as is apparent, by moving the roll 16 to the left as seen in FIG. 1.

The illustrated winding mechanism during operation of the machine advantageously maintains the lower portion of the canvas 10 tight, so that this portion may be utilized for guiding the canvas to keep it in substantially the same path about its supporting rolls. The mechanism advantageously maintains the top part of the canvas slack during operation of the machine so as to provide a pocket 10a for the roll of webbing being wound and maintains the canvas slack when the machine is not in operation so that the pocket 10:: exists under these conditions for starting a new roll of webbing to be wound. These relatively taut and loose portions of the canvas are maintained during operation of the machine by the differential driving mechanism between the rolls 12 and 14 and by the pinch rolls 14 and 15 when the machine is not in operation. The pinch rolls 14 and 15 advantageously are speed controlled so as to be brought out of operative relation when the machine is in operation. The cam control unit 93 advantageously provides an increasing pressure on the rolls of webbing being wound in the canvas pocket 100, as the wound rolls increase in diameter, whereby the machine produces finished rolls that are wound with uniform tightness for their complete diameter.

We wish it to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions, arrangements, devices and methods shown and described, as it will be 9 apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. In winding apparatus for winding a sheet materiai web into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of spaced band supporting rolls about which said band is positioned, means for drivingly rotating one of said supporting rolls for thereby moving said band in one direction about said rolls, means for braking another of said supporting rolls for maintaining a lower stretch of said band between said two last mentioned rolls taut and for maintaining the upper stretch of said band between said two rolls loose to thereby provide a loop or pocket in the band in the loose stretch thereof for receiving the roll of webbing being wound, and means actuated by changes in the path of travel of the taut lower stretch of said band from a predetermined path of band travel and effective to return the band back to its said predetermined path of travel.

2. In winding apparatus Eor winding a sheet material web into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of spaced band supporting rolls about which said band is positioned, means for drivingly rotating a driving one of said supporting rolls for thereby moving said band in one direction about said rolls, driving means interconnecting said last mentioned roll with another of said supporting rolls and tending to drive the latter roll at a slower peripheral speed than said driving roll so as to maintain a lower stretch of said band between said two last mentioned rolls taut and to maintain an upper stretch of said band between said two rolls loose to thereby provide a loop or pocket in the band in the loose stretch thereof for receiving the roll of webbing being wound, means for efiectively changing the path of travel of said \band about said rolls, and means under the control of the taut lower stretch of said band which includes a follower device in cont-act with the edge of said band and 'which is effective on said path changing means so as to shift the path of said band back to a predetermined path when it wanders from said path.

3. In winding apparatus lfor winding webbing of sheet material into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of supporting rolls for holding said band in the form of a loop, means for driving one of said supporting rolls and for thereby driving said band, means for movably supporting one of said supporting rolls so that it may be moved toward another of said supporting rolls to form a pocket in said band for receiving the roll of webbing being wound, and means controlled by said movable supporting means to apply an increasing force on the roll supported thereby as the latter roll is moved away from said other supporting roll for applying a greater force on the roll of webbing being wound as the roll of webbing increases in diameter.

4. In winding apparatus for winding webbing of sheet material into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of supporting rolls for said band for holding the band in the form of a loop, means (for driving one of said supporting rolls so that it constitutes a driving roll for driving said band, said supporting rolls including a cradle roll, a pair of swingab le supporting arms for supporting said cradle roll so that the cradle roll may be moved toward and away from said driving roll for forming a pocket in said band between said cradle roll and said driving roll for receiving a roll of webbing being Wound and so that the pocket in the band may enlarge as the roll of webbing increases in diameter, and means controlled by said swingable arms to apply an increase in force on said cradle roll toward said driving roll as the cradle roll is moved away from said driving it? roll for applying a greater force on the roll of webbing being wound as the roll of webbing increases in diameter.

5 In winding apparatus for winding a webbing of sheet material into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of supporting rolls for said band for holding the band in the form of a loop, means for driving one of said supporting trolls so that this roll constitutes a driving roll for driving said band, said supporting rolls including :a cradle roll disposed on a pair of swinga'ble supporting arms to be thereby movable toward and away from said driving roll for forming a pocket in said endless band between it and said driving roll to receive the roll of webbing being wound and being movable away from said driving roll by the roll of webbing being wound as the latter increases in diameter, an air pressure cylinder connected with each of said arms, and air pressure regulating means operated by said arms as they move along with said cradle roll as the latter moves away from said driving roll to provide an increased air pressure to said cylinders and thereby provide an increased restraining force on said cradle roll as the cradle roll moves away from said driving roll with increasing size of the roll of webbing being wound.

6. In winding apparatus for winding webbing of sheet material into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of supporting rolls for holding said band in the form of a loop, means for driving one of said supporting rolls so that this roll constitutes a driving roll for thereby driving said band, driving means tending to drive another of said supporting rolls constituting a second driving roll at a slower peripheral speed than said first named driving roll so as to maintain an upper stretch of said band relatively loose between said two driving rolls and to maintain a lower stretch of said hand between said two driving rolls relatively tight, another of said supporting rolls being adapted to have a nip with said second driving roll and forming with the latter roll a pinch roll pair, and means responsive to movement of said band for moving one of said pinch rolls to have a nip with the other pinch roll when movement of said band ceases so as to prevent slippage of said band with respect to said pinch rolls and to maintain the upper stretch of said band loose.

7. In winding apparatus for Winding webbing of sheet material into a roll, the combination of an endless band of flexible sheet material, a plurality of supporting rolls for holding said band in the form of a loop, means for driving one of said supporting rolls tor thereby driving said band, a pair of swingable arms for supporting one of said supporting rolls so that the latter roll may be moved toward another one of said supporting rolls to form a pocket in said band for receiving a core about which the sheet material webbing may be wound and for holding a roll of webbing being wound, motor means for moving said arms so as to move [the supporting roll carried thereby toward said other supporting roll for applying a force on said core and onto the roll of webbing being wound, and controllable stop means for limiting the movement of said arms and thereby said supporting roll carried thereby short of their extreme positions toward said other roll so that said pocket formed in said band is relatively large into which said core may be loosely disposed preparatory to applying force onto the core through said swingable arms and the supporting roll carried thereby by releasing said stop means tor starting a roll of sheet material webbing on the core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN WINDING APPARATUS FOR WINDING A SHEET MATERIAL WEB INTO A ROLL, THE COMBINATION OF AN ENDLESS BAND OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF SPACED BAND SUPPORTING ROLLS ABOUT WHICH SAID BAND IS POSITIONED, MEANS FOR DRIVINGLY ROTATING ONE OF SAID SUPPORTING ROLLS FOR THEREBY MOVING SAID BAND IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID ROLLS, MEANS FOR BRAKING ANOTHER OF SAID SUPPORTING ROLLS FOR MAINTAINING A LOWER STRETCH OF SAID BAND BETWEEN SAID TWO LAST MENTIONED ROLLS TAUT AND FOR MAINTAINING THE UPPER STRETCH OF SAID BAND BETWEEN SAID TWO ROLLS LOOSE TO THEREBY PROVIDE A LOOP OR POCKET IN THE BAND IN THE LOOSE STRETCH THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE ROLL OF WEBBING BEING WOUND, AND MEANS ACTUATED BY CHANGES IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE TAUT LOWER STRETCH OF SAID BAND FROM A PREDETERMINED PATH OF BAND TRAVEL AND EFFECTIVE TO RETURN THE BAND BACK TO ITS SAID PREDETERMINED PATH OF TRAVEL. 